Officers Injured Working Crash

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WISH) - A crash scene in Tippecanoe County on Wednesday is now a crime scene.

As he assisted in an accident, State Trooper Tom McKee was hit by a semi while sitting in his cruiser.
McKee’s injuries are minor, but the semi driver fled the scene.

Over the past few days, in addition to McKee, four other officers were hit and injured helping stranded drivers.

“There's a lot of times I think that we were lucky that there weren't 25 hit,” ISP Trooper Brian Harshman said.

Harshman patrols Indiana's interstates, where helping folks is often a hazard.
On Thursday, a state trooper was hit on I-74 near Batesville. Another was hit along I-74 in Shelby County on Tuesday. Both were treated and released.

Two sheriff's deputies were hit working crashes on I-70 Wednesday. One, from Putnam County, suffered minor injuries. The other, from Wayne County, suffered serious injuries.

“In an instant, if you're not paying attention, not only can you change my life forever or somebody else that's on the interstate, but you can change your own life,” Harshman said.

Harshman speaks from experience, hit twice in 16 years as a state trooper.

“I remember being pinned between my police car and his RV,” Harshman recalled. “And I remember thinking that I couldn't make myself skinny enough, because he kept coming closer and closer and he kept grinding me into the car.”

As for the most recent accidents, police continue to look for the white semi truck pulling a white box trailer that hit Trooper McKee.

If you have any information, you're urged to call the Lafayette State Police Post at 765-567-2125.

Provided By: Wish TV 8
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